House Approves Abortion Bill

The Washington Post reports

The House on Wednesday approved a bill that would expand restrictions on federal abortion funding, after a contentious floor debate among leaders of both parties.

The measure,  H.R. 3, passed on a 251-to-175 party line vote, with 16 Democrats joining all Republicans present to vote “aye.” The bill would eliminate tax breaks for insurance providers that cover abortion services and would codify a federal provision prohibiting taxpayer funding for abortions in all federal programs.

The bill is the latest considered by the Republican-led House to target abortion funding. In February, the lower chamber approved an amendment sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) that would defund Planned Parenthood, the country’s largest abortion provider. (That provision ultimately was not included in the final budget deal negotiated by the White House and congressional leaders. A Senate vote rejecting stripping funds from Planned Parenthood was included as part of the deal.)

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) has introduced a separate measure, the “Protect Life Act,” that has garnered 142 co-sponsors. The bill would prevent federal funding from being withheld from institutions that refuse to provide abortions and would also prohibit funding for abortions under the national health-care law.